Crypt of the Necrodancer nails everything that it sets out to do. Every moment of Necrodancer is fun and engaging, the music is some of the best original music in any rhythm game, and the entire experience feels very original.

Lost Legacy takes all of the positives of the series and combines them with protagonists that bring a fresh take on adventure to the series. We can only hope that this isn't the end of Chloe's and Nadine's stories, as the world of Uncharted is ripe for more exploration, and these two leads are more than up to the task of carrying the torch.

Atlus has spent the last decade trying to make this niche JPRG franchise more prominent in the west, and Persona 5 deserves to be the game that finally takes the series from obscure to mainstream. Not only is it true to the series’ roots as well as a great starting point for the series, it’s a fantastic game, period. A hundred hours might not even feel like enough time; my first thought upon seeing the credits roll was “Is it too soon for New Game Plus?” Persona 5 is something very special, so never fear, JRPG fans: it was worth the wait.

An amazing platform experience from top to bottom. From the gameplay to the art to its style of wit and storytelling, Owlboy takes notes from the long history of its genre and combines them into a stellar journey.

Uncharted 4 is indeed A Thief's End, the type of bookend story to which other franchises should aspire. It's an emotional ride through some pretty dangerous places, not the least of which is the mind of a man who realizes he's at a major crossroad in life. Will this be the last time we see Nathan Drake? I don't know for sure, but you know what? I sure hope it is. Godspeed Uncharted, and thanks for all the memories.

There wasn’t a single minute while I was playing this game that I wasn’t smiling, oohing, or aahing at something, whether it be a new detail in a stage, or a big time move pulled off by another player. The Smash Bros. museum is open once again, and anyone who’s ever loved Smash Bros., Nintendo, or video games in general, should immediately subscribe to the lifetime pass.

Assassin’s Creed Pirates isn’t some cash in on Assassin’s Creed 4, it is a damn good game that stands right up on its own. It is epic, engaging, and most of all fun. It doesn’t wear out its welcome with bloated mechanics or unnecessary plot. It distills the essence of what we loved about the naval battles and puts it at your fingertips.

Overwatch does the things most video games only dream of doing. This is a fresh, joyful experience offering an incredible variety of gameplay, high ease of access, and deep potential for mastery. In a genre full of dour shootymans using realistic guns to shoot at realistic people, Overwatch polishes off the grit to reveal a game that's optimistic and eager to be explored. This is a world you'll want to stay in, bring your friends to, and keep coming back to for years to come.

The gameplay, while not overly complex and slightly less fine-tuned as its console cousin, is more than adequate. And the overall package is really quite solid. Playdead knows this and the price tag reflects that polish. But is Limbo worth it? Well, there certainly are no shortage of beautiful physics puzzle/platformers already in the App Store, but there’s not many that can match Limbo’s overall quality.

Sometimes things will be tough; you may even swear you're done getting stomped by a cruel and uncaring game, yet you'll inevitably find yourself picking up that controller again, steeling your resolve, swearing to push through the pain to snatch that next triumphant moment of victory from the slobbering jaws of the dark beast we call Bloodborne.

Though the story is a draw for longtime fans, most people will be stopping in to check out Halo 5's multiplayer, and it's there 343's direction really shines. Warzone is a lot of fun, and Arena's classic inspiration is made all the better thanks to 343's latest twists to core mechanics. It's gorgeous, it's fast-paced, and it's a blast to play regardless of your skill level. Halo 5 is absolutely the flagship title the Xbox One deserves.

Horizon Zero Dawn is compelling from the first minutes of the game, telling an incredible story and marking it with a deep crafting system and exceptional combat. Aloy is inspiring in her lead role, with the potential to become a new leading face in gaming for a long time to come.

Blood and Wine has been said to be the last pursuit for Geralt of Rivia for the foreseeable future according to CD Projekt Red. If that’s really true and we’re done with Witcher for a while, then Blood and Wine is most certainly the way to put this franchise to rest once and for all.

No matter what form it’s in, Final Fantasy VI is one of the best games in the history of the medium, with its fast-paced battles, humongous world to explore, fascinating characters and bold, original story.

If you’re looking for a fun hack n’ slash action-JRPG with a deep customizable system to tailor to your playstyle, Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is some of the most enjoyable times to be had, going far beyond the nostalgia of a simple remake.

I cannot recommend this to everyone because of the sheer difficulty of the experience, but I nonetheless challenge anyone who has lost a loved one or faced great trouble in their life to take this journey, share in human togetherness with the Greens and their friends, and observe the beauty that blossomed from the life and death of Joel Green.

Double Fine promised a classic point-and-click title when it launched its crowd-funding campaign three long years ago, but the developer didn’t just rely on nostalgia. Instead, it made a game that captures the humor of the games Tim Schafer worked on at LucasArts while creating a modern aesthetic that totally suits the story.

As an indie game by a team known for the wild first-person shooter Serious Sam, not much was expected, and yet what we got was a fantastic puzzle game blended with a story and world surpassing that of most video games by being thought-provoking, well-crafted, and actually having something to say.

Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker is a joyous experience in an age where many games go for the grim. This low-cost, high-value puzzler’s packed full of sweet characters, delightful visuals, and its multi-objective level design lets nubile gamers feel accomplished at simply beating a stage while still leaving some nice challenge for the more hardcore among us.

The real draw to return to fold, or jump in for the first time if you missed out on GTA V over the course of the last year, lies in the updated graphical prowess current-gen systems hold. Most significantly, the draw distance in this updated version is absolutely outstanding.

The biggest draw about the remastered version of Valkyria Chronicles is the upgrade to 1080p resolution. However, it was already gorgeous on the PS3 eight years ago thanks to the watercolor-inspired artwork and storybook interface. Valkyria Chronicles Remastered looks exactly how I remember it looking, which is a testament to its impressive art design.

FTL: Faster Than Light proved to be a hit on the PC, with its massive replayability, intelligently-designed gameplay and minimalist interface, and those same qualities are what make it a success on iOS as well.

Dishonored 2 doesn't veer from the path established by the first game too severely, but given how strong the world and gameplay were it doesn't really have to either. The new locales and villains make for some strong additions to the series, as do the new powers unleashed by Emily Kaldwin. Even with a passable story and ineffective acting, the foundation and gameplay are strong enough to make Dishonored 2 one of the year's best.

In the end, XCOM 2 has come into the world aiming to do what an XCOM is supposed to do best, which is supply a fun, extensive, and challenging hybrid of resource and time management and turn-based strategy combat.

Battleheart Legacy makes use of a minimalist visual style that, while clean and easily accessible, won’t exactly wow you. Its controls, too, are a bit of a sticking point, as during the heat of battle, it’s easy to accidentally click the wrong target or move to the wrong area. Still, these issues are minor, and will probably go unnoticed by players as they’re too distracted by the ludicrous amounts of fun they’re having.

There is almost nothing without purpose in Breath of the Wild’s world and it is easy to get lost for hours on end without ever advancing the story. Even so, it helps that the narrative holds up as well, providing another meaningful journey for the Hylian hero and heroine. Breath of the Wild is by no means perfect, but when you’ve got a game that rewards every kind of exploration with a new wrinkle, it might not have to be.

Story Mode is fun and light-hearted, and rekindles those feelings of excitement and adventure you had with friends when you were a kid. It may wear its influences on its sleeve, but that's not such a bad thing when it's handled so well.

Nidhogg 2 is a game you can quickly lose an afternoon to, and you won't mind one bit. Few games are as friendly to players as all skill levels, while still providing intense matches and a few good laughs. Don't let the simple controls fool you. There's a lot of strategy to devise, particularly when you get continually matched up against your closest pals. The humor is delightful, and sometimes a little gross, but the cartoonish style makes it all work in tandem with the swordplay.

This new Doom is what I’ve been waiting for, a perfect mixture of old concepts and new technology brought together for the current generation. The fast-paced action of yesteryear is coupled with giant stages, customizable and shareable maps, and a robust if slightly generic multiplayer offering, the final result being a super fun way to blast through a few hours. There’s no Doom and gloom here; this new game is a hell of a good time.

Stealth Inc. 2 delivers on story, looks and gameplay without comprising one for the other. Fans of stealth games, or even 2D sidescrollers in general would be doing themselves a disservice by not playing this game.

A spectacular machine that makes perfect use of all its components. It incorporates familiar elements with those that may have seemed superfluous, but only serve to solidify this franchise as a frontrunner in the genre. Packed with content, modes and customizability, Forza Motorsport 6 is a grand evolution of a decade's worth of racing under the Microsoft banner.

1968 captures the mood of the 60’s well and is a quality title that you’ll spend hours enjoying. The controls are decent, it looks great, but more importantly, it is something different and interesting.

A wonderful, demanding but rewarding, roguelike twin-stick shooter where the visuals connect with the gameplay and the music is getting you pumped to shoot more bullets at bullets. Enter the Gungeon does a good job of explaining its mechanics via tutorial and Ammonomicon, making it great first for anyone looking to get into this burgeoning genre. It doesn’t necessarily bring anything new to table, but what it does bring is extremely well done.

It's not easy to still find ways to innovate in the open-world space, but Voltion has managed to stay on the pulse of the genre well enough over the past few years. Agents of Mayhem is another strong entry in the developer's fan-favorite library, and has just as many memorable characters and moments as the best Saints Row titles. There are times where it feels like a bit of a grind, but even those elements are outmatched by Agents' charm. Saving the world has never been this vulgar or felt this good, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Marrakesh is the best area and mission in Hitman so far. It rewards patience and a slower pace of gameplay than any previous mission. The attention to detail and level design are a step up from Sapienza and Paris as well.

Nier: Automata's story is a rich tale, both tragic and whimsical, told expertly through the medium of video games by melding thrilling combat with a profoundly imaginative world well worth exploring. Director Yoko Taro is a madman with a box, and he's been kind enough to open that box to let us play with it.

On the surface, Trouserheart is simple and charming. But at its core, this title offers a distinct sense of challenge atop a fun-inspiring backdrop. He might look like the dad of Sir Arthur from Ghouls ‘N Ghosts (they even have the same underwear!), but I assure you, Trouserheart is all heart and no pants.

Madden has been good for a long time, but this year it's great. There are so many small improvements made to the core of Madden NFL 18's gameplay thanks to the new engine, it's hard not to be excited when hitting the gridiron every time you fire up a game. Even after hours of play, we're still noticing new ways in which players are reacting and moving between the hash marks.

It's strange to think about it in these terms, but Heroes of the Storm is the perfect MOBA for those who don't care for League of Legends and Dota 2. The removal of items simplifies gameplay in comparison to League and Dota, but the focus on teamwork, communication, learning the roster, speed and environmental objectives helps make up for the things MOBA fans may nitpick about Heroes (such as its lack of items).

Icycle: On Thin Ice is a steal for just $0.99 thanks to its outside the box creative execution and perfectly realized physics quests. It’s a great one two punch of fun that carries much more heat than its moniker suggests.

Adventure buffs and those with a flair for the nostalgic need to make Ori and the Blind Forest part of their collections immediately, for it will take players back to the glory days of adventure games in the best ways.

With Yakuza 0, Sega's managed to give the long-running series a shot in the arm, re-invigorating it for longtime players, and making it accessible to anyone that was turned off by jumping in so late in the series before.

Guilty Gear Xrd is continuing to stand out as the game that deserves to bask in the spotlight. -Revelator- doesn’t reinvent the wheel the way -Sign- did, but it does add a significant amount of content and gloss to what was already awesome.

NetherRealm Studios has been working with the DC Comics characters for a few games now, but Injustice 2 truly shows just how well the developer understands how to best translate comics to a fighting game. Just having the likes of Gorilla Grodd and Aquaman in a fighting game would have been enough for most fans, but including as much depth in the story, loot system, online options, and customization takes Injustice 2 above and beyond. It's not all that rare for NetherRealm to have success in the fighting genre, but to accomplish this level of excellence for players of all skill levels is a fantastic achievement.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a hauntingly memorable experience even though it's only a few hours long. You will have a hard time forgetting any of the Finches and what they did with their time on the now-hallowed grounds. Equal parts somber, whimsical, devastating and charming, What Remains of Edith Finch is a moving exploration of what it means to be a family, to be loved, to be missed, and how the places we call home become just as much a part of us as we are of them.

Addictive gameplay, an inspired visual design and a ridiculously fair freemium mechanic will keep me coming back for more. There are so many cards to gather and enemies to vanquish along my journey, and hopefully more app enthusiasts will join in on this uniquely epic experience.

We hope you’re in it for the long haul, because Episode 1 can take a very long time to complete, depending on how adept you are at solving puzzles in adventure games. Suffice it to say that you’ll be getting every dollar’s worth and more with this installment of The Serpent’s Curse.

If there is one thing that really holds Bardbarian back from being a truly perfect iOS game, it’s the fact that it’s so challenging. While the difficulty may be fun for fans of the genre and people like me who just generally enjoy a challenge, it kind of hampers the story a bit and may cause other gamers to lose interest.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided was already one of our favorite games of last year, but both add-ons in Jensen's Stories have kept the game feeling fresh long after release. "A Criminal Past" was a bit more enjoyable than "System Rift" if only because "System Rift" took place in the same confines as the main campaign, and this new DLC lets us see someplace new and different we haven't been exploring for hours on end already. Whatever Square and Eidos have in store for Deus Ex in the future, "A Criminal Past" and Mankind Divided show there are plenty of ways to keep us coming back for more.